What To Do If You Accidentally Took Expired Probiotics
Published on July 28, 2023
We all know that taking expired medications can be risky. At best, you’ll get dizzy or develop hives. At worse, it could be fatal. But what if you accidentally took expired probiotics? Should you be worried?
In general, taking expired probiotics isn’t that big of a deal. Probiotics are supplements, not medications. Most brands have no chemical components that can go bad after a certain period. So they’re unlikely to cause any significant health risks.
But if you want to make sure you won’t suffer from any serious side effects, here’s a quick guide on what happens when you take expired probiotics and what you can do in such cases.
Can Expired Probiotics Make You Sick?
So far, there is no scientific evidence suggesting that expired probiotics can make you sick. However, the longer a probiotic supplement stays on the shelf, the lesser its effectiveness.
Why is that?
Also dubbed as the “good bacteria,” probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to our bodies. Aside from supplements, it’s also found in the foods we eat. Once these microorganisms enter our bodies, they colonize our guts and kill the bad bacteria.
To get the maximum health benefits of probiotics, they must reach our guts alive. Dead microorganisms won’t be able to stick to your gut walls and fight off the harmful bacteria.
The number of live microorganisms that reaches your gut also matters. Lesser live microorganisms mean lesser good bacteria present in your gut. These bacteria are like your body’s personal soldiers. When there are very few of them, the bad bacteria can easily take over and negate the effects of probiotics.
Do Probiotics Expire?
Yes, probiotic supplements do have expiration dates. Probiotic manufacturers are required by law to indicate expiry dates on their products’ labels. But this doesn’t always mean they cease to be effective after that date.
Sometimes, the microorganisms in your supplement die even before the indicated date. Other times, their shelf-life extends way beyond the expiry date shown on the label. Various factors determine their viability.
What Affects a Probiotics’ Viability?
Here are three of the most significant factors that can affect the effectiveness and shelf life of your probiotic supplement:
Storage Conditions
Most probiotic strains are microaerophilic. Meaning, they need very little amount of oxygen to grow and reproduce. Some of them can even breed with no presence of oxygen in the atmosphere.
But studies show that too much oxygen in the air can hold back the growth of microorganisms. Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium spp. are especially susceptible to oxygen toxicity. These strains were originally found in the intestines of healthy humans. As such, they do not thrive in environments with a high oxygen concentration.
This is why storage conditions greatly affect a probiotic’s viability. A study conducted in Australia found that microencapsulation significantly increases probiotic viability. The airtight capsule protects the probiotics from changing levels of oxygen.
Experts also claim that probiotics in foods live much longer than those in supplements. This makes them more effective carriers of beneficial bacteria. But more studies have to be conducted to confirm this.
Stomach Acid
Before it reaches your gut, probiotics must deal with one of its worst enemies: stomach acid.
The extreme level of acidity in our stomach helps us digest the food we eat. But it also kills most of the microbes that pass within it. Unfortunately, it gets rid of the beneficial bacteria too.
By the time the probiotics reach your gut, their numbers are greatly reduced. So even if you take in millions of live probiotics, it would be futile if very few of them make it past your stomach.
One trick you can do to protect them from stomach acid is to take probiotics on an empty stomach. When your stomach has nothing to digest, it produces lesser acid.
Manufacturers also tend to coat their probiotics with either an enteric coating or alginate. These are supposed to protect the microorganisms from stomach acid. But so far, there is no conclusive proof that these are effective.
The Probiotic Strain
Different probiotic strains have different storage requirements. Some are more shelf stable, while others need to be refrigerated. If the strains in your probiotic supplement have to be stored at a certain temperature, they’re more prone to environmental changes. So those strains are more likely to die before their actual expiry date.
How to Know If Your Probiotics Are Still Effective
If your probiotic supplement has been sitting at the back of your fridge for a long time, there’s a simple test to know if they still work.
Mix your probiotic supplement with about 4oz. of cold milk. Leave the mixture for 24 to 48 hours at room temperature. If the milk curdles to a yogurt consistency, then your probiotics are still good.
However, this “milk test” is not always 100% conclusive. Some probiotic strains, like those belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces Boulardii, do not cause milk to curdle. While harmful bacteria like the Streptococcus species can cause curdling in dairy products.
This test may not also work in probiotic tablets and those with enteric coatings. Remember that the microbes have to be mixed directly with the milk for it to curdle. As such, the protective coatings have to be removed first. A cold glass of milk may not be able to do that, as these coatings are specifically designed to be dissolved in stomach acid. To get around this, you can crush the tablet or dilute the enteric coating in a baking soda solution with a pinch of salt before mixing it with milk.
What To Do If You Unwittingly Took Expired Probiotics
If you accidentally took expired probiotics, there’s typically no need to panic. As I said, they generally won’t cause any harmful side effects. However, if you’re the ultra-cautious type, here are some steps you can take:
1. Stay Calm
Accidentally taking expired probiotics is no reason to panic. You’ll most likely experience no adverse effects from taking them.
2. Monitor for Symptoms
If you experience any unusual symptoms or discomfort after taking expired probiotics, pay attention to them. While it’s unlikely, if you notice any adverse reactions, contact a healthcare professional.
3. Discontinue Use
If you find out that you took expired probiotics, you should stop using them immediately. It’s useless to continue taking them if you have doubts about their effectiveness.
4. Dispose of Expired Probiotics
Safely dispose of the expired probiotics to avoid any confusion or accidentally taking them again in the future. Follow any disposal guidelines provided on the product packaging or check with your local waste management guidelines.
5. Purchase Fresh Probiotics
If you still want to include probiotics in your daily routine, consider purchasing a new, unexpired batch from a reputable brand.
6. Consult a Healthcare Professional
If you have any specific health concerns or experience unusual symptoms after taking expired probiotics, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and to address your concerns.
Wrapping It Up
If you’ve accidentally taken expired probiotics, there’s no immediate cause for alarm. Most individuals will not experience adverse effects from doing so. But you should still be mindful of any unusual symptoms and discontinue use if needed.
Next time, don’t forget to check the expiry date. Also, remember to store your probiotic supplements properly. A cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight will help extend their shelf life and maintain viability.
Lastly, keep in mind that it’s always best to consume probiotics within their recommended expiration date. You won’t only make the most out of probiotics, but you’ll also be saving your money from going down the drain.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer based in the Philippines. Her commitment to communicating factual content in when writing is unmatched. She works hard to cross check reputable sources to ensure her work uses accurate facts.
